Khanthology

Andre Nickatina is such a resolutely anti-mainstream artist that there is really no rubric by which one could assemble a “greatest hits” package. But despite his disregard for the conventions of pop music, the track listing of the two-disc retrospective *Khanthology* still seems like a collection of Nickatina’s “hits.” There is no question that “Crack Raider,” “3 AM” and “Cobra Status” are essential not only because they epitomize Nickatina’s art. However twisted, these songs have an unmistakable anthemic energy about them, proving that even an artist as bizarre as Nickatina can write sing-alongs. Over the course of many albums, his songs have remained consistent, and consistently inventive, and there isn’t a dud in sight on *Khanthology*. If there can be one criticism of this collection it’s that it errs towards more conventionally structured rap songs, diverting attention from the bold and bizarre detours that have always been a part of Nickatina’s albums, demonstrating he\'s not simply a whacked-out oddity, but a rapper whose innovative vision and terrific skills place him in the upper ranks of rap visionaries.